Preparedness Capacity during the Outbreak of Novel Influenza H1N1: An Evaluation of Health Departments in a Public Health Practice Based Research Network

The population studied in this research includes LHDs in Kentucky and LHD members of the Kentucky Public Health Research Network, K-PHReN. Kentucky health departments examined include single county departments and district health departments. K-PHReN is a public health practice based research network (PBRN) made up of LHDs in Kentucky and their associated community partners. K-PHReN health departments include both single county and district departments, and collectively serve 50 of Kentucky's 120 counties. K-PHReN health departments were more likely than non-PBRN health departments to activate a Pandemic Influenza Plan during the 2009 H1N1 outbreak. K-PHReN health departments were also more likely to have a local epidemiological response team (ERT), and to have activated the ERT during the H1N1 response. Similarly, K-PHReN health departments were more likely to have a formal in-house Emergency Operations Center (EOC), and to have activated the EOC during the H1N1 response. Neither K-PHReN nor non- PBRN LHDs reported activating an Emergency Management EOC. K-PHReN health departments were also more likely to have activated the local public health incident command. These findings suggest that health departments involved in a PBRN may have increased capacity and infrastructure for emergency preparedness, and thus, greater ability to respond to emergency needs, such as an infectious disease outbreak.